The former Richwoods, Illinois Central College and University of Illinois basketball standout was hired Tuesday as the women’s basketball coach at ICC.

She replaces Steve Garber, who resigned last month after coaching the Cougars for nine seasons.

“I just felt it was the right thing, honestly,” said Stein, who lives in Leawood, Kan., and spent the past basketball season as a radio and television broadcaster of collegiate women’s basketball games. “I talked to several people about different opportunities, but I just always felt in my heart that this was the right thing, especially after seeing the new facilities.

“And the other part of it is, how can you say no to Coach Ramsey?”

Lorene Ramsey was Stein’s basketball and softball coach at ICC in 1979-81 and the two remain close friends.

“There is no one else I’d rather have take over this program,” said Ramsey, who retired from ICC in 2003 after 33 years and five national basketball championships. “She was an athlete when we were just starting to come into our own and her group and (Bradley coach) Paula Buscher’s group put us over the hump.”

Stein consulted with Ramsey and Buscher before accepting the position.

“When Coach Ramsey endorsed me, I felt very good about that and I talked to her at length about what she thought needed to be done,” said Stein. “And I talked to Paula at great length and they were so positive about what they thought could be accomplished here — there has been so much accomplished already, it’s just getting it back on track.

“I have a lot of respect for Steve … he recruited the kids I’m going to be working with and I’m indebted to him for getting them there. I’ll do my best to get them where they need to be.”

Stein’s mother, Roberta, brother David and sister Cheryl still live in Peoria. One of her nieces, Jennifer Stein, plays softball at Richwoods.

Stein’s coaching resume includes a stint as an assistant coach at Bradley. She also was an assistant at Central Michigan, Miami, Cincinnati and Illinois before becoming head coach at Emporia State, where she was named Division II coach of the year in 1998.

She spent 12 years as head coach at the University of Missouri before resigning on March 2, 2010.

“She brings more to the table than just basketball,” said ICC athletics director Sue Sinclair. “I think she’s going to contribute in so many ways to other parts of our department and that’s just so exciting.

“Not only does Cindy bring outstanding coaching experience to the college, but she brings a deep understanding of who we are and where our sports program comes from.”

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ICC assistant Christelle N’Garsanet, who has been acting as interim coach, played for Stein at Missouri and Stein said she has agreed to stay on the staff. The two have already been trying to pick up some additional recruits before Saturday’s signing date.

“One of the reasons I wanted to get back into coaching was I wanted to have an impact,” said Stein. “I felt all of my teachers and coaches had an impact on me so I’d like to help Peoria athletes in any way I can.”